Saturday, September 13, 2008

Stargate Atlantis - Behind the Scenes Photos from 'Vegas'

At Joseph Mallozzi's blog update for September 13, 2008:

(Please follow the link for the complete blog update and to view some fantastic photos -- 1) of the Save Stargate Atlantis rally at Bridge Studios on Friday, and 2) behind the scenes photos from the filming of Stargate Atlantis' 'Vegas,' [please follow the link to see all the photos in their original format] and a new video tour! Thank you, Joe!)



September 13, 2008: Fans Protest, Main Title Compressed, Some Questions Addressed



David Hewlett addresses the fan rally

Yesterday, The Bridge Studios was the scene of a massive fan protest. Well, massively spirited anyway. When I rolled in first thing Friday morning, there were three hardy souls outside the gates. An hour later, that number had swelled to five, then eight, then ten, then back to eight (when it turned out that the two we'd counted from our office window were actually a reporter and camera person covering the event for SFU [Simon Fraser University] campus news), then back up to ten. The turn-out may have been small, but those who showed were very animated, waving signs and exhorting passing motorists to honk. Many did and I hope that most of them knew what, exactly, they were honking in support of, but I suspect that more than a few whizzed by wondering "Save sga? What a sga?"



David Nykl arrives on two wheels

...Otherwise, a fairly quiet day. I watched some dailies (shoot-out, shirtless wraith, and ginormous explosion), approved some promos, and swung by set to say hi to Rob who was directing Bob, David, David, and Gary down in the command center on Stage 5. Alas, it looked to be a late night for Bob so we didn't get around to doing our Q&A video segment but fear not. We'll definitely get around to it next week.

And, among the other Stargate-related things to look forward to next week: Amanda Tapping, spinning the movie, completing production on Enemy at the Gate, Thursday's final Vancouver wrap, and, of course, the 100th Episode/Series Wrap Party.

FYI - By the time I rolled off the lot to pick up the pooches at doggy daycare, the fan ranks had swelled to an even dozen.



Robert C. Cooper and David Hewlett

Oh, for those of you asking - no, you didn't imagine it. That was the abbreviated nine second main title sequence that accompanied last night's airing and not the cool, VFX-laden full version containing the entirety of Joel Goldsmith's incredible score. The decision to scrap the uber-cool main title sequence in favor of the truncated blink-and-you'll-miss-it sequence was a network call. Apparently, prevailing wisdom holds that viewers possess the attention spans of coked-up squirrels who are likely to change the channel if faced with the prospect of investing up to a full minute of their time watching the main title of a show they've tuned into. By airing a shorter sequence, it is argued, viewers will be less likely to suddenly grow bored and wander off into the surrounding cornfields or seek out more enticing programming like, say, TVLand's The Jeffersons/Good Times double-bill. Bottom line: Don't give the viewer an excuse to change the channel. And, to be honest, it's sound logic.

Provided the network rolls right into the show rather than heading into commercials which would, in effect, defeat the purpose of airing a shorter main title sequence.

Uh. Oh.



Robert Picardo

Hey, finish up Keeping It Real. I'll be weighing in with my thoughts on Monday and author Justina Robson will be dropping in later in the week to field your questions. Then, get started on The Black Company. Author Glen Cook will be dropping by next week. And, once that's under your belt, pick up The Missing. Author Sarah Langan will be stopping in the week after that.

Today's entry is dedicated to all the fans who showed up yesterday to support the show. Your group may have been small but you proved yourselves loyal, enthusiastic, and, occasionally, loud and annoying. Kudos to all!

Today's pics: Command center, Vegas.


Today's video: The FX Stage Tour, final part.




Is that actor David Hewlett’s wedding ring…or character Rodney McKay’s wedding ring?

Mailbag:

Camy writes: "Have you heard any word on the SGA movies? Is the two-hour SGA movie a go for sure?"
Answer: It is indeed a go. We hope to have this script finished before year's end.

Alexandria writes: "I have heard a lot of people upset about the shortened credits…from my previous tv knowledge, the abbreviated version was used as the show likely ran a little long."
Answer: That wasn't the case in this instance.

Linda Gagne writes: "To those with the thoughts that tptb won't do more than one movie, sadly, I have a feeling they don't care about Atlantis and that will happen."
Answer: Provided enough fans tune in to watch the television premiere and purchase the dvd, there will be plenty of Atlantis movies to come.




Gary Jones

~~**~~**

For more photos from the Save Stargate Atlantis rally, please see:

shaddyr live journal

SGA Notice Board Live Journal



Robert Picardo, Gary Jones, David Hewlett and David Nykl

Stargate Worlds - GateWorld: Stargate Worlds bonus content will be free

At GateWorld:

(Please follow the link for the complete GateWorld article.)



Stargate Worlds bonus content will be free

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 13 (PRODUCTS)

Video game publisher will give subscribers much of the game's ongoing expansion content for no additional cost.


A brief excerpt:

Stargate Worlds
publisher FireSky will give away much of the game's ongoing expansion content for free to the massively multi-player online role-playing game's subscribers, the studio told VideoGamer.com.

Stargate Atlantis - GateWorld: Full Coverage: The Queen

At GateWorld:



FULL COVERAGE: The Queen

Discussion

Episode Guide

Excerpts from the Production section of the Episode Guide:

# Behind-the-scenes images from what appears to be the filming of "Tracker" and/or "The Queen" are online at the L.A. Times Web site.
"[Ellia, the Wraith child from 'Instinct'] and several other instances suggest that the Wraith's arguably 'evil' disposition is not genetic but shaped by their upbringing and their environment. Check out 'The Queen' for an interesting lesson on Wraith politics and diplomacy."
(Executive producer Joseph Mallozzi, in a message at his blog)

Transcript

Photos

Download (iTunes)


Download
(Amazon)

Stargate Atlantis - No Emmy in 2008

Stargate Atlantis was nominated for a US Emmy Award in the Outstanding Special Visual Effects For A Series category for their fourth season episode, 'Adrift.'



Unfortunately, Stargate Atlantis didn't take home the Emmy this year.

At the Watching Heroes site:

They're reporting that Battlestar Galactica was the Emmy recipient this year.

Congratulations to all the nominees -- Battlestar Galactica, Heroes, Human Body, Jericho and Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles -- for their excellent work, but especially congratulations and a big THANK YOU to Stargate Atlantis':

Mark Savela, Visual Effects Supervisor
Shannon Gurney, Visual Effects Coordinator
Erica Henderson, Lead Visual Effects Compositor
Jason Gross, CGI Supervisor
Jamie Yukio Kawano, Lead CGI Artist
Michael Lowes, Lead CGI Artist
Giles Hancock, Lead Matte Artist
Jeremy Kehler, Lead Visual Effects Compositor
Daniel Osaki, Lead Model Maker

For all their hard work, talent, and creative energies devoted to Stargate Atlantis.

Stargate Atlantis - GateWorld: David Nykl Interview

At GateWorld:

(Please follow the link for the complete GateWorld article.)



WORDS OF RADEK

GateWorld talks with David Nykl

David Nykl is among the cast and crew of Stargate Atlantis mourning the loss of their television series. After five seasons of adventures it feels we are saying goodbye to a friend far too soon.

However, there is still a great ray of hope in the form of DVD movies. The first is currently being written by Executive Producers Joseph Mallozzi and Paul Mullie, and will make an appearance on the SCI FI Channel some time next year. Still, this transition is still very much a shake-up, both for the crew and for the fans.

In this interview, David updates us on production of the final episodes of the series. We discuss episodes we would loved to have seen, as well as the first Atlantis television movie. We also consider the popularity of the franchise, as well as Stargate Universe and the team who will soon follow in Atlantis's footsteps.

For more comments from Nykl, be sure to check out the actor's blog!



A brief excerpt:

GW: What were your favorite episodes from last year? Zelenka episodes and episodes overall?
DN: I loved "Adrift." That was a lot of fun floating through space. And the way that shot turned out was just amazing. It was just a really cool shot. The jump with me and Joe [Flanigan.] I have some fun scenes with "Lorne" this year in the Puddle Jumper. A lot of actors don't like doing the Puddle Jumper scenes, but I love them. I think Puddle Jumpers are fun.

The control room is bread and butter for me. I'm up there a lot! And we're back to some more classic McKay-Zelenka heated exchanges this year, which I'm very happy to see.

Psych - Video: Commentary for 'Gus Walks Into a Bank'

Courtesy of USA and HULU, commentary for 'Gus Walks Into a Bank.'

Psych - Gus Walks Into a Bank

Commentary |04:57 |

Writer commentary with Andy Berman

Damian Lewis - Life - Video: 'Life Returns'

Courtesy of NBC and HULU, teaser trailer for the second season of Life.

Life - Life Returns

Teaser Trailer |00:31 |

Fridays this fall, television's most fascinating detective returns.

Life stars Damian Lewis, Sarah Shahi, Adam Arkin, Robin Weigert, Brooke Langton, Brent Sexton and Jennifer Siebel. Season two premiere episode, 'Find Your Happy Place,' airs Monday, September 29 at 10pm on NBC.




Charlie Crews (Damian Lewis) and Dani Reese (Sarah Shahi)



Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles - Video: 'Dungeons and Dragons'

Courtesy of HULU, from Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles first season, 'Dungeons and Dragons,' starring Lena Headey, Thomas Dekker and Summer Glau. Guest stars include Jonathan Jackson, Edoardo Ballerini, Brendan Hines, Brian Austin Green and Dean Winters.

While fighting for his life and moving in and out of consciousness, a stranger remembers life in the future and his personal battle against the machines. Meanwhile, Sarah finds herself trying to explain the past to Charley.

NOTE: This video expires in three days.

David Boreanaz - Bones - Video: 'A Boy In A Tree'

Courtesy of HULU, from the first season of Bones, 'A Boy In A Tree,' starring Emily Deschanel, David Boreanaz, Michaela Conlin, Eric Millegan, T.J. Thyne and Jonathan Adams. Guest stars include José Zúñiga, Heavy D, Mark Totty, Tom Dugan, Marlene Forte and Gary Cervantes.

When the decaying corpse of the Venezuelan Ambassador's son is found hanging from a tree on the campus of an exclusive private school, Dr. Temperance Brennan and Agent Seeley Booth are called in to investigate.

ReGenesis - Video: 'The Oldest Virus'

Courtesy of HULU, ReGenesis' 'The Oldest Virus,' starring Peter Outerbridge, Maxim Roy, Conrad Pla, Mayko Nguyen and Dmitry Chepovetsky. Guest stars include Sarah Strange, Greg Bryk, Ellen Page, Rosemary Dunsmore, Vincent Walsh and Hugh Dillon.

As the search continues for the source of the deadly prions, NorBAC zeros in on a large agribusiness suspected of selling infected chickens.